Fresh fears have gripped Nigeria’s North-East following a deadly overnight assault by suspected insurgents linked to Boko Haram and its splinter faction Islamic State West Africa Province, which reportedly claimed the life of a senior military officer and several others in Borno State.
Security and local sources confirmed that Brigadier General O. O. Braimah, a Brigade Commander of the Joint Task Force stationed in Benisheikh, Kaga Local Government Area, was feared killed during the fierce attack on military formations late Wednesday night.
The assault, described as highly coordinated, reportedly began around 10:30 p.m. in Pulka and Bakin Ruwa communities in Gwoza Local Government Area, where insurgents overran a military base and set several operational assets ablaze. Witnesses say the attackers, who stormed the area in large numbers, inflicted significant damage on infrastructure and forced security personnel into intense combat.
Hours later, at approximately 1:00 a.m., the insurgents launched a second wave of attacks targeting Benisheikh and Ngamdu towns. It was during this phase that the 29 Task Force Brigade headquarters came under heavy fire, with multiple military vehicles reportedly destroyed and others carted away by the attackers.
According to local accounts, while troops engaged the insurgents and succeeded in neutralizing several of them, the operation came at a heavy cost. In addition to the reported death of Brig. Gen. Braimah, casualties were recorded among soldiers, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, and civilians caught in the crossfire.
A resident, Malam Lawal Benesheikh, confirmed the tragic development in an emotional social media post, mourning the loss of the commanding officer and other fallen personnel. “This unfortunate incident occurred when the insurgents stormed the military formation in large numbers. May the souls of the fallen heroes rest in peace,” he wrote.
The attacks also disrupted civilian movement, with motorists and passengers stranded overnight due to the routine closure of the Maiduguri-Damaturu Road. In Pulka, insurgents reportedly looted food supplies and destroyed facilities belonging to a road construction company, worsening the plight of residents already grappling with insecurity.
Pulka is currently home to thousands of internally displaced persons, many of whom fled nearby communities such as Ngoshe after previous attacks, raising concerns about their safety amid renewed violence.
As of press time, the Operation HADIN KAI headquarters has yet to release an official statement on the incident. The latest assault underscores the persistent threat posed by insurgent groups in the region, despite ongoing military operations aimed at restoring peace and stability.
